The Schleich Stable Review

I have fond childhood memories of playing imaginative games with my younger brother. We had a whole selection of Schleich animals and a plastic sheet that had an entire wildlife scene imprinted upon it. From grass land to desert, there was a place for the array of animals that we had collected over the years.

Those very animals (and even that particular play sheet) are still at my parents house for the next generation to enjoy. 

I have always loved Schleich as a brand, the attention to detail that goes into the each individual item is just incredible, and I love that they are still going strong in 2019 for Leo to enjoy too. 

We have a whole selection of Schleich Dinosaurs on display in his bedroom, he’s had them since he was a toddler and Leo was overjoyed when we were asked if we would like to review the Schleich Horse Stable.

Granted I was probably more excited about reliving my youth, and when it came to the un-boxing and set up of our shiny new stable, I did marvel and swoon over all of the wonderful details that were embellished into this beautiful set.

The Horse Stable had to be built before it could be played with, but the instructions were easy to follow illustrations that were all numbered accordingly. Before I got started with the construction, I emptied the pieces out of their wrappers and lay them all in front of me.

There are a lot of really lovely additions to this particular set, and along with the selection of farm animals (listed below), you also get farmers Paul and Laura. Paul is all ready to do all the practical work (there’s carrots and hay so feeding the animals is a must!) around the farm (there’s even a horse brush and bath so the horses can be preened and polished!), and Laura is positioned so that she can ride either Horse of her choosing (and yes there is an actual saddle that you can attach to the horses so Laura can sit down!).

It took me around 30 minutes to build the stable, I got a little perplexed when it got to putting the roof on. It was tricky in the sense that I needed to line the roof up with the allocated slots and slot it in until it clicked into place, at the same time I had to keep the support beams I had placed in line too. We got there eventually, but if I had got my head around the whole roofing situation sooner, it would have been an even quicker set up.

There are stickers included within the instructions that can be stuck over the horses stables (so you can name them if you choose), and even a sticker for the feed station which highlights different meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

My advice would be to build this before your present it to the children, as they are going to be super eager to play with it (so if it’s a present, maybe build it the night before).

The stable comprises 2 Horse boxes, which is great as You also get 2 Horses in this set, 1 Black Shire Stallion and 1 White Mare (The White Horse has a French braid in its Mane!), and you will even find a few other little surprise animals inside:

3 Ducklings

1 Mouse

1 Kitten

The Stable is a brilliant set and comes with so many little bits that you would expect to find in a real life stable, and of course with Schleich’s attention to detail, it’s not been missed here! 

There is fencing that you can attach to any of the doorways that the horse has access too, so your little ones could even leave the horse grazing in greener pastures (or whatever their imagination decides!). 

One point I really have to add into this review is this, it’s not been marketed for a boy, or a girl. It’s completely neutral, which is really great. There was no ‘this is for girls’ coming from Leo because there wasn’t a shade of pink on the box what-so ever. Instead they have opted for Yellow’s, Greens and Red’s (keeping in theme with the stable itself). 

Over all we were really impressed with the Schleich Horse Stable, it really didn’t disappoint. The only thing I wish is that it was around when I was Leo’s age! I did keep saying over and over again how much I would have adored this as a kid. 

I loved all things horse as a girl (I actually recall saying that I was never going to learn to drive, I was going to have a real horse and that would be my form of transport. My Mum maintains that I was born in the wrong era!).

The set retails at £79.99, which for us equates to a main birthday gift or Christmas present. If your little ones love animals and make believe play, then this Schleich set will be a sure winner.

The price really does reflect just how much detail has gone into everything that is included, and it’s something that we will treasure and preserve for future children. 

The Imaginext Fire Station Review

We absolutely adore Fisher-Price in our house, they are a brand that we personally chose for Leo when he was too young to make those choices. The play mat, the swing and some of his very first toys, were Fisher-Price. As Leo has grown we have added many more to his collection, and very recently when we were asked if Leo would like to try out the Imaginext Fire Station, we leapt at the chance.

Leo is almost 3 and is loving everything emergency service related, when we are out in the car he loves coming across a fire engine, police car or ambulance with their sirens blaring. There have been a few instances where he has almost demanded that I follow them, and gets very irate should another vehicle block the emergency service vehicle from his sight. I had already foreseen just how excited Leo would be at the prospect of having a play fire station to play with, and the arrival of the Imaginext set only confirmed my expectations.

The Imaginext Fire Station comes pretty much assembled and is just a case of..

1 – Restraining the toddler long enough for you to get all the bits and pieces out of the pack.

2 – Popping in the accessories, like the water pump, flag and hook onto the fire station.

3 – Letting your imagination run wild!

Assembly is always an aspect that I consider when purchasing a new toy, it usually falls into one of two categories. Is it something I can assemble myself… Or will I need Luke to do it? Thankfully the Fire Station is so easy, I wouldn’t really say it needed assembling. As soon as it was all out of the box, Leo was free to speed the fire engine around and put out as many fires as he pleased. He marched the little firemen up the fire escapes into the fire station, he swung them from the hook (for reasons only he will know).  He put the water into the water pump and pressed the button launching it across the room. In fact he was so engrossed in his game that he didn’t even say goodbye to me as I went back to work from my lunch break.

Granny advised that he played all afternoon with his fire station, and the truck that had its sirens on more than off (it even came with batteries so it was ready to rock and roll).

When the time came for me to take Leo home, I found him clutching the fire station in his arms. He was worried that I would forget to bring it home with us. Since the arrival of the Imaginext Fire Station Leo has not stopped playing with it. He absolutely loves it. Leo has always loved imaginative games, so this is the perfect toy to really get his creative juices flowing.

It has been so lovely watching Leo dream up games, and acting them out with the firemen, the fire engine and of course the station itself. When putting out a fire you hear Leo making the nose for the water as he spurts it out of the hose, and onto the burning building. He has balanced the fire-fighter’s in the lift on the back of the truck…And when they have fallen out quickly called an ambulance to come and pick them up! It is a toy that he can use his imagination with completely, he can make absolutely anything happen and I think this is precisely why it is such a big hit.

In an age where everything is going digital, and where kids toys have so much technology, it does really make me appreciate the simple toys just like this one, that just allow kids to be kids.

From a parent’s perspective I think this is a great addition to the toy collection, nothing beats sitting down on the sofa and watching Leo play out his games right in front of me. Hearing him play so happily and just making the rules up as he goes along. The quality of the toy it’s self is great, it’s sturdy and made for little hands. I adore all of the detail that has gone into it, and on the right hand side you have a fireman’s pole that the firemen can actually use! My favourite bit of this set has to be that it comes with everything you need to play straight away. There are 3 firemen included, the fire engine with working lights and sounds, the station and the accessories. I have found in the past with some sets that you have to purchase everything individually, so it is a real bonus that everything comes in the one set. There are so many different aspects that keep Leo interested, and of course playing for hours.

The Imaginext Fire Station retails at £50.00, and when I first saw the price tag I have to admit that I thought it was a little steep. Having actually seen the play value that is to be had with this set, the quality and of course having everything included, I now think that you would end up paying more, either buying a cheaper version and it breaking… or buying one that doesn’t include all of the accessories that are included in this set.

Amazon currently have the Imaginext Fire Station for sale at £47.99, at the point of writing this review.

Leo adores it and I love watching his imagination come to life. This is a toy that is going to continue to be very well played with, and as Leo continues to grow I am guessing that games will too.

Disclaimer: We were sent the Imaginext Fire Station for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions are completely honest and my own.

The Aztec Wigwam Review

A child’s imagination can make the impossible…

Possible.

Nothing is ever out of reach in the mind of a child,

and magic hides behind every corner.

Give a child a den or a hiding place and they will have hours of fun, they will turn that den into a cave or a dungeon and their imagination will run away with them. They may even get you involved. Leo gets me to hide away from Daddy with him, and we have to stay oh so very quiet until Leo decides to jump out and scare Daddy!

Leo was sent a wigwam from Garden Games just before Christmas, and it has now been set up in Leo’s room for him to use whenever he wants. He hides his favourite toys inside, and has even been sat inside with his disco ball as the lights bounce around on the interior walls.

It’s Leo’s sheltered space within his bedroom that could put him anywhere in the world, on the most exciting of adventures. I love the freedom that simply erecting a wigwam in his room can give him, it can be a place to play or even just sit quietly and read a book. We have even put Leo’s bean bag inside on occasion so that he can sit down in comfort and be king of his castle.

The Wigwam can be either an indoor or outdoor toy, it is made out of a strong canvas to help weather the elements, but for us I think it is something we will keep inside to make Leo’s room extra special.

I found putting it together pretty easy, and it was just a case of joining up the poles with the plastic connecters. You have to make sure that the holes on the pole are directed to the top of the Wigwam when you slot them into place so that you can tie the string and the balls through them.

Over all it is really simple to put together.

Currently we have the Wigwam set up in the middle of the room, but I am in the process of looking to move Leo’s room around somewhat. Now Leo is no longer in his cot I want to try and spruce his room up some more and I am in-visioning the Wigwam potentially going by his bed on the back wall. But then that all depends on the space available…

We have had so many compliments on the Wigwam and it is not hard to see why, it is really well made and looks great. It is perfect for a little boy or girl in the Aztec design and definitely provides a great play opportunity.

The Aztec Wigwam retails at £54.99 which I honestly think is a great price for the quality of this Wigwam. Especially in comparison to other retailers who are selling Wigwams at prices almost double this for very similar products.

Disclaimer: We were sent the Aztec Wigwam for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

The Plum Boston Kitchen & Bigjigs Wooden Stuffed Pizza Review

I love nothing more than fueling Leo's imagination, watching him using his own personal devices to create fun games for him to play among himself and his friends. I love giving him the chance to play games of make believe just like I did as a child, where all he needs is his own magical mindset to create childhood magic that mean his wildest dreams could come true at any moment.

These day's it is fair to say that many toys don't require you to access that one chord in your brain to open up the door to the very roots of your imagination. That one chord that allows you to dream up the most wildest of dreams and become who or whatever you want to be.

Leo has always been a very content child, and this quality is something that has just grown with him. He plays beautifully on his own, and I love sitting on the sofa and just taking in all that he is. He creates these magical games that I feel very privileged to play along with him. 

Plum recently invited Leo to put his imagination to the test with their beautiful Boston Play Kitchen, a kitchen that is such a fantastic size that it would be ideal for siblings to play around together. As soon as it arrived I set myself the challenge of putting it together, the instructions told me that it would take around 45 minutes but as soon as I opened the box and saw the number of pieces I had a feeling that I would personally be there quite a bit longer...

I laid out the instructions in front of me and glanced up at the clock, it was 3:15pm. I got off to a good start and was feeling pretty pleased with myself when I could see the kitchen slowly being built up in front of my eyes. Leo had gone off for a nap and luckily for me it was quite a long sleep that he was bestowing upon me. When he awoke and saw the then nearly completed kitchen, there was nothing I could do to keep my budding chef away, so I decided to take a well deserved break.

When I did finally persuade Leo to let me continue my construction venture, it was time to put the doors on. This is when I realised that I may have made a little boo boo. You see there were no holes for me to place the screws for the hinges through. I had made a mistake, a very simple mistake... But a mistake that I had made right at the very start of my venture. 

The clock now read 8:00pm and my hands were a little sore from all of the twisting with the screw driver. I decided to admit defeat and call Luke to tell him I had a very special job for him, and with a mans touch the kitchen finally stood complete. 

I have to admit that I am not technically minded when it comes to building projects, and that stands for putting together play kitchens. But Luke on the other hand found the entire build process a doddle, so how you will find the actual assembly depends on 2 things.

1. How well you follow instructions... I fell down at this hurdle.

2. How well you implement the instructions you read... I fell down at this hurdle too.

The Boston Kitchen is of great build and quality, and I can personally vouch for it having the play durability to contend with clumsy toddlers. All of the wood is nice and solid, so there is no chance of kids dropping toys through the sink and breaking a shelf. I comment on this as we had a kitchen for Leo in the past that had a removable sink and a very thin piece of ply wood underneath, Leo liked to drop things through the centre of the sink (like my iPhone for instance..) and although this shelf never snapped.. It was always a concern as it was so thin. It would have simply taken one toy drop too many for the shelf to give in. So in this respect I was immediately very impressed with the entire quality of the Boston Kitchen.

I didn't even need to ask Leo what his thoughts were as his reactions were ample enough for me to conclude his opinion for myself. Leo was playing with the included pots and pans before I had even made my attempt at building it. Along with the pots and pans you also receive an assortment of different wooden kitchen utensils which really make a difference in being able to get playing as soon as you possibly can. Leo was playing straight after I had opened up the box.

Since the Boston Kitchen arrived I have eaten so much make believe cake that I don't think I will be able to eat a real cake ever again. Leo is constantly cooking up creations for me to eat, firm favourites being pizza and chips. I can actually see Leo's imagination working over time while he is playing make believe at his stove. I even had a flash forward to the future and saw my budding chef working hard, maybe this is his true calling!? Of course Leo being so ambitious with what he is cooking me, means I have had to perfect my pretend eating, and I would like to think I know have that nailed... You only have to look at my make believe expanding waist line to know that I am being well fed by my two year old. 

The great thing about this particular Plum model is that the way it has been designed means you can place it in the centre of the room to allow your own kids and their friends to gather around to play together. It is such a great size so that there is plenty of room for everyone to have something to do and enjoy themselves, it is open all the way around so that it doesn't have to be pushed up into the corner which makes this model a very sociable choice.

Having such a beautiful wooden kitchen sitting in the lounge means that we need beautiful wooden food to cook up in Leo's oven. Leo has been sent a wonderful Bigjigs Wooden Stuffed Pizza from Butterflies and Dragons, and it is the perfect accompaniment to allow him to cook up a truly tasty storm for his Mumma.

Before the arrival of this pizza, Leo was serving make believe chips like they were going out of fashion and I know that the oven it's self has been very pleased with the sudden change in food type. BigJigs are a brand that I have loved for a long time, and we actually already have some of their wooden food so I had high hopes for it. The Pizza comes in a cardboard box and inside is wrapped in paper, the slices of pizza have velcro so that you can put the pizza together and then chop into it with the pizza cutter. The toppings are attached to each individual pizza slice with velcro which allows Leo to remove all of the pieces as and when he wants to. I really like this as it allows Leo to put them all back on in any which way he pleases, but it does also mean that there is a chance he could loose some of the pieces through excited play.

Leo is thrilled that the pizza comes with a actual pizza cutter and wooden Pizza Stone. He has loved being able to cut up the slices and then serve his Mumma a slice of pizza with all of the toppings that he has personally chosen for me. Leo puts the pizza into the oven and waits for it to get 'hot', and opens it up to make sure that it is cooking as it should be.

This play pizza alone is enough to excite the imagination and keep Leo entertained for hours, there is so many different ways to play with this set. He could have cooked it from scratch in the kitchen and be adding all of his desired toppings, he could have ordered in a cheeky Domino's Pizza... Or he could even be working his very first job at Domino's Pizza! 

For me I love how bright and vibrant the Bigjigs Stuffed Pizza is and think it is a lovely addition to Leo's Plum Kitchen. I know that I am going to be eating pizza for some time to come! 

You can purchase the Bigjigs Wooden Stuffed Crust Pizza from Butterflies and Dragons for a very reasonable £14.95, and this would make a great addition under the Christmas tree this December, especially if you are adding a play kitchen to your household this year.

Of course once we have finished eating our pizza there is always some washing up to be done, luckily we have a sink that we can get all of this accomplished in. I really like the taps on the Boston because you can turn the tap nobs as if you were turning them on or off. Just remember to turn them before you end up with an over spill...

So what do I love about the Boston Kitchen?

The Boston Kitchen is a all round great product, I love the price (£149.99) and think that for this price you get a lot for your money. The solid build is essential as let's face it, children will play hard. This is especially true for Leo and it is coping perfectly with this. I am really impressed with the island style of this kitchen with the multiple cupboards that you can store things and of course put play food to bake. The shelf in the centre has been great to store Leo's kitchen utensils and also to put everything away at the end of the day when play time is done and dusted until tomorrow. 

I love how much work top space you get with this kitchen, and that is precisely why Santa will be delivering Leo with a kettle and toaster to sit on his work surface this Christmas. Another aspect I think is really great is the height and the actual colouring of the Boston Kitchen. It is a nice basic colour so it is not orientated to either sex, I am a firm believer that play kitchens are for either sex, and Plum have provided the perfect product for those parents who are looking for a play kitchen for their little boy or firl, or even parents of multiple children who want something that can be used for either sex.

I love this product and I am really pleased with how much play value Leo gets out of it on a day to day basis. Each day means a new game that he dreams up in his mind and implements using his own devices. It gives us a chance to play together and have lots of giggles as he force feeds me pizza or cake. It gives me a chance to be a child again, and I know that Leo loves that we can have this special play time together.

Disclaimer: I was sent the Plum Boston Kitchen and the Bigjigs Wooden Stuffed Crust Pizza for the purpose of this review. As always all views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.